Registering with a doctor

Drop by thwe health centre (Centre de Salut) at Carrer Code de Alta and they will assign a doctor.

Thank you, we will try this

Do we just go to the reception and ask for a doctor? Is it that easy?

I dont think they will. They will need to register their S1 at the INSS office first.

The INSS gives them a form to take to the Health Centre and it is that form that allows the Centro Salud to issue the SIP card and allocate a doctor on the back of it.

Kind regards, Steve

Thank you Steve

Is there an INSS in Calpe or do we have to go to Denia/Benidorm?

Yes, in Calpe, address is

Carrer Mare de Deu del Carme, 7, 03710 Calp, Alicante.

Usually a previous appointment is necessary (una cita previa)

Telephone number is 965 83 11 16 They may not speak English but give it a try. If they don't, either get someone who speaks Spanish to call for you or pay to get a Gestor to do it for you.

The Centro Salud will issue a temporary SIP using the paperwork from the INSS, then you return a month later to swap it for a permanent one.

Yes..I think Steve is right and I was going to put the same.

I think you have to get a letter from the UK but I'm can't remember what it is. I'm sure they will tell you when you go.

Sue 😘

Cheers Sue, if they're holding a Form S1 from UK Pensions that should be enough along with presenting the usual ID.

I had to present my Residencia, copy of Passport and NIE

Yes Steve sorry....

It was because I was under pension age and couldn't get a S1 and needed the letter.

Sorry to confuse everyone.

Sue 😘

Hi,

This is a cut and paste from a reply given by another member  in another thread about a year ago so there may be minor changes, If members have recently gone through this process please advise if this is still valid. I am under state retirement age so have not gone through this process personally. Please update us on how you get on

Good luck

Vivienne

Take your S1 form, together with your original NIE and Padron and your passport to the nearest INSS office to register for Spanish healthcare. If you aren't on the padron, take a copy of your deeds or rental agreement, just in case, as you need to prove where you live.

 You will only get a temporary SIP card until you are resident. (this may not be how it works  now)

If you are registered as resident, add your residencia to the list of documents above and you will get a full SIP card, or the paperwork to get one. 

Take the SIP card, or the paperwork to get one, to your nearest Centro de Salud where you can register for a médico.

You may not get the SIP card from the INSS, but a piece of paper to show at your nearby Centro de Salud which has an admin department. They issued the SIP for use in your home town Centro de Salud. It may be that you will have to get your SIP from  one office and then register at the Centro de Salud in your town.

If you don't have residencia, the INSS will issue you with a temporary SIP (this may not be valid) until you go back and show them your residencia.

It sounds a bit convoluted, but it isn't really - it just depends on whether you are resident or not and whether your Centro de Salud can issue cards.